Washington / New Delhi — June 8, 2025 — The Voice News
In an unexpected diplomatic twist, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has privately offered to act as a mediator between Elon Musk and former U.S. President Donald Trump, whose once-close relationship has dramatically soured in recent weeks.
According to diplomatic sources familiar with the matter, Modi conveyed this offer through back-channel communications during the recent Indo-Pacific Strategic Dialogue in Singapore. The Indian leader reportedly sees value in de-escalating the Trump-Musk feud, which is now threatening to spill over into sensitive areas of technology cooperation, space exploration, and global digital infrastructure.
The rift between Musk and Trump intensified after Musk publicly criticized Trump as “ungrateful” and suggested the former president would have lost the 2024 election without Musk’s early platform support. Trump responded sharply, warning Musk of “very serious consequences” should he be seen backing Democratic candidates.
The fallout has also unsettled U.S. agencies: the Pentagon is reportedly reviewing its dependence on Musk’s SpaceX, while discussions about alternative providers, including Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin, have accelerated.
Indian officials believe that a prolonged public dispute between Trump and Musk could undermine broader Indo-U.S. tech alliances — particularly around satellite internet (Starlink), clean energy initiatives, and future space collaboration, where India is eager to expand its global footprint.
“PM Modi enjoys a unique rapport with both men,” a senior Indian diplomat told The Voice News on condition of anonymity. “He views this as an opportunity to promote stability at a time when strategic technology partnerships are becoming more important than ever.”
Sources say informal overtures have already been made to intermediaries close to both Trump and Musk. The response from the Trump camp has been described as “tentatively open,” while Musk’s team has shown “cautious interest.”
With Modi scheduled to travel to the U.S. next month for a high-level Bilateral Technology and Trade Forum, observers say there may be further opportunities to advance a behind-the-scenes reconciliation.
Whether Modi’s diplomatic gamble succeeds remains to be seen — but the Indian leader’s bold intervention underscores the growing global significance of the Musk-Trump dynamic, and its potential to influence not just U.S. politics, but the future of global tech governance.